Buddhist Druid

[Bartholomew]

I see that many topics are covered here, Christian/Druid seemsto create much division and pain, conflicting paths.Or injured and hurt by church and doctrination. I do not see any Buddhists,Muslims, Hindus or jews engaging in any debates here. I woner why. A multi faith organisation is a multi faith organisation. I am currently joining a Buddhist organisation which has interfaith dialogue. There are billions of buddhists in the world. Why is there such a small amount of those followers looking elsewhere for guidance? My heart tells me that our heritage, our religion, our culture ran along similar lines. Images I have received in Buddhist led meditations. Our lineage has all but been lost.IMHO

[Lily]

to be very honest with you this would probably be more fitting in "common quest" so if you want to ask a mod to move it, go ahead.

here are a few thoughts
- few people discover druidry or neopaganism
- druidry appeals predominantly to people in the western world
- most people in the western world have been exposed to christianity at a young age, and many will have consciously turned away from that mythology in search of something else
- few (though more and more) people pursue a buddhist path in the western world
- buddhism is probably less dogmatic than christianity, hence less need to actively turn away from it if there are things you don't agree with -and as you say they have an unbroken tradition, why go for a broken one?
- judaism is probably deeper rooted in the societal framework of its members than christianity so the people are less prone to turning away (or they simply become secular, although I know of one famous pagan author who is jewish by descent (I challenge you to find out on your own))

the intersection of all these sets is so small... but I know of at least one buddhist druid on this board, surely he'll give us a wave.

[Bartholomew]

Thank you Lily

[DJ Droood]

There was a Muslim who posted quite a bit for awhile, and I know a Hindu Druid that has posted here. I think there have been a number of Buddhists pass through, or people with an interest in Buddhism...Can't recall any Jews, but I would take take a guess that the percentage of Jewish Druids, or formerly Jewish Druids mirrors the overall population...maybe 1%. The percentage of Buddhists in the populations of Western Europe and North America is a little less.. .5%

Islam isn't sinking like Western Christianity is, so there are fewer folks floundering about.

And Druidry draws on the remains of the indigenous religions of Northern Europe, so it probably is a more interesting subject matter for ethnic Northern Europeans than anyone else. I think if a wayward Muslim was going to get all esoteric, they would be more inclined towards Sufism. Whereas "Celtic Christianity" is a "slippery slope" to druidism.

[Jake]

I agree that this discussion seems like it should be in the "Common Quest" area but I don't want to wait for it to be moved.

Based on what they've written, many members here have incorporated Buddhist practices into their spiritual lives. How many actually identify as Buddhists would be an interesting question.

I remember the Muslim poster as well. And there was at least one Hindu Druid who was active for some time.

As for Jews, I was a rabbinical student for several years but that didn't really work out. Who knew that not believing in God and being radically opposed to infant circumcision would be so problematic?

There are a couple of other Jewish Druids or Jewish folks exploring Druidry who've been on the board. I recall one who, like me, was a convert to Judaism. And there's at least one Israeli member. Regardless of current level of formal affiliation, it's really very difficult to be "formerly Jewish" under Jewish law.

I agree with Lily and DJ that, as a broad generalization, people who are Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu or Jewish by birth or culture rather than by choice would seem less likely to find a great deal of interest in the "Celtic" or "Northern European" mythos common to Druidry or western neo-paganism. In my experience, Jews who embrace an "earth-centered" religious outlook are more likely to turn to aspects of the rich and vast Jewish tradition for spiritual sustenance.

See for instance http://www.telshemesh.org/

There's an interesting overview of Jewish Paganism in this article: http://www.forward.com/articles/1743/

And I've met very few modern Neo-Pagans whose religious lives are anywhere near as "earth-centered" as Arthur Waskow's is: http://www.theshalomcenter.org/node/1008

And Lily, that famous pagan author you mentioned still identifies as a Jew as well (most commonly when in a Jewish context or addressing a Jewish audience or readership).

[Jake]

Whereas "Celtic Christianity" is a "slippery slope" to druidism.

And vice versa it seems a lot of the time!

Which kind of weirds me out, to be honest.

[skh]

(Moved to Common Quest.

peace /|\
Sonja)

[Blind Owl]

There are trivial truths and the great truths.
The opposite of a trivial truth is plainly false.
The opposite of a great truth is also true.
Niels Bohr

I agree with much of what has been said. Speaking for myself as a non-Christian member of OBOD, it is my belief that if what I say has a grain of truth then the medium in which it travels is of a lesser importance. As such, if I cannot express my belief without the trappings of religious, social or cultural language or translate them into a different medium - then I feel I haven’t yet gotten to the core of it. (This is a nearly impossible objective – but being conscious of the intent is important to me)

My religious beliefs are something intimate, personal and precious to me. They are not that which defines me but that which allows me to better define myself. I have no intention of throwing them to the self appointed lions nor use them as internet currency or a badge of honour. I am sure that many feel the same and that it is enough for them while here to simply represent as a Bard, Ovate or Druid.

[Bartholomew]

Thank you all,
some very interesting comments, I will have to go back through the links you have provided Jake.
Thank you to you also Blind Owl, I respect your views regarding personal spiritual beliefs and privacy but as you have answered in this way I am slightly puzzled by your prescence on an internet forum. If you are a new Bard with only Bardic activities in mind, I see you have not contributed any poetry, prose, photography, music etc in the desigated areas. Also by going through the grades of Bard, Ovate and Druid, what do you hope to achieve? What is the ultimate goal of Druid? Is it one that searches and discusses spiritual paths, ethics, morality, philosophy? If so for what purpose? To share with others for the betterment of the human condition through whatever media is available. Or purely for your own personal
understanding and development?

[Donata]

I've been a Buddhist - that is, joined and was initiated into one of the forms of Buddhism - a number of yrs. ago - actually, it's over 25 yrs ago! (how time flies!). I practice Buddhist meditation, read books by the Dalai Lama and other Buddhist teachers - yet I don't actually identify as a Buddhist. I follow Buddhist teachings, philosophy, and meditation methods. I find Buddhism a very deep psychological spirituality of great wisdom and practicality.

I don't find any problem being a 'fringe Buddhist' and am sincere in it but it's not my primary spiritual path. I identify more strongly as a Druid, a Witch/Wiccan, and shaman. For me, Buddhism is totally compatible with my 'other' spirituality.

BB
Donata

[Blind Owl]

Thank you all,
Thank you to you also Blind Owl, I respect your views regarding personal spiritual beliefs and privacy but as you have answered in this way I am slightly puzzled by your prescence on an internet forum. If you are a new Bard with only Bardic activities in mind, I see you have not contributed any poetry, prose, photography, music etc in the desigated areas. Also by going through the grades of Bard, Ovate and Druid, what do you hope to achieve? What is the ultimate goal of Druid? Is it one that searches and discusses spiritual paths, ethics, morality, philosophy? If so for what purpose? To share with others for the betterment of the human condition through whatever media is available. Or purely for your own personal understanding and development?

I am just beginning Gwers One after first studying ‘Approaching the Forest’. So sorry for not being Bard enough for you. So instead of answering your questions and taking this even further off topic, I have written my first short story.

I tried imploringly to catch the eye of the eldritch beard behind the bar.

The strange creature had already gnawed its way up to my knee and seemed in no hurry to stop. The sound of cartilage splintering and the satisfied slavering grunts hid my own pathetic whimpers.

The grey beard made a tutting disapproving sound and extracted a gnarled finger

Pointing to a faded sign above the bar I read the legend

‘Please don’t feed the trolls ‘

Goodbye

[Bartholomew]

Thanks Donata, I am finding my recent delve into Buddhism very enlightening, and calming, I have much to learn though. I think that I may just focus on this for a while, but it's strange how I feel everything interlinks. I have an affinity with a lot of Druid thought and philosophy and maybe one day I will get past The Bardic Grade. Maybe not this year though.
Dear Blind Owl there really is no need, no need at all for the animosity. I have no ill will towards you whatsoever and I don't know why you felt the need to insert a laughing face in my quote. But if it makes you feel better so be it.
Goodbye

[Badger Bob]

I am a bit of a spiritual mongrel. I was raised Roman Catholic/Anglican/Buddhist by competing grandparents and Atheist/Humanist by my parents. I rejected Catholicism in all its forms early on and I am only a cultural Anglican these days despite being more active than most at my local church; according to the local vicar my "pagan" interpretation of Christianity is enough to qualify. However, my maternal grandfather introduced me to Buddhism which he had picked up working as a railway engineer from Chinese colleagues. I still practice today, meditating twice daily in the Zen/Chan tradition although I have taken teachings and blessings from many Tibetan teachers who have visited the UK or who are resident in Nepal and from the Theradavan tradition in modern day Sri Lanka and Thailand. So I suppose I could call myself Buddhist as much as anything.

Buddhism is an infinitely mutable thing, it can accommodate most kinds of other traditions and beliefs. Most practitioners of Buddhism/- use the standard buddhist cosmology which views the gods as being subject to the usual samsaric attachment but being extremely long-lived, well beyond the scope of recorded history. This allows gods to be quite human in their character, being cruel or loving, vengeful or forgiving just as humans can be. For many people this allows them to make sense of the other major religions also. It is entirely appropriate to practice Buddhism as a philosophy and a self-development technique while practicing another religion, although religions which require killing and violence in any way would act to undo the merit generated through mindfulness. So there are many people who practice Buddhist techniques, have some Buddhist ideals and who are sympathetic to core Buddhist beliefs without actually calling themselves Buddhist. This is not a problem for Buddhism which is very much focussed on the result rather than the method. The Buddha himself advised everyone to take his teachings and test them rigorously, finding their own way to the cessation of suffering. In answer to your original question I suppose there are not more Buddhists turning to Druidry because the idea of rejecting one path in favour of another is more of a western idea. Buddhists find it easy to be a Buddhist on the meditation mat, something else at the temple/church/whatever and an atheist at work, it isn't duplicitous, it is just using the right tool for the job.

[Lily]

I tried imploringly to catch the eye of the eldritch beard behind the bar.

The strange creature had already gnawed its way up to my knee and seemed in no hurry to stop. The sound of cartilage splintering and the satisfied slavering grunts hid my own pathetic whimpers.

The grey beard made a tutting disapproving sound and extracted a gnarled finger

Pointing to a faded sign above the bar I read the legend

‘Please don’t feed the trolls ‘

Where's the "like" button??
ah - here:

[Kima]

Although I don't call myself a Buddhist I practice vipassana/insight meditation, have been to retreats and read quite a bit on Zen. My sacred space looks much more Buddhist than Pagan. Discovering Buddhism after about 20 years of Evangelical influence allowed me to focus on the "now" rather than "one day", on here rather than heaven. That for me was a major shift. However I needed to base my spirituality on nature in one way or other because that is absolutely central to me, and even in Buddhism I found a dismissal of animals and nature similar to that of Christianism (i.e. "I have never seen an enlightened chicken", said Christina Feldman ).

Then I discovered Clark Strand's "Green Meditation" http://www.tricycle.com/recovery-dark which I thought was brilliant, and very much relied on that for several months. It also led me to learn to read the Bible in a different way, looking for what he calls "green artefacts". I am mentioning this thinking of Jake's comment that Jews would rather look for nature spirituality within their own tradition, because I believe that although Christian texts are harder to decipher in that mindset there is still a lot that could be used in the Bible. We simply haven't learned to read the texts using our own intelligence.

Anyway, I ended up growing a little tired of poor old Clark - bless him - because after a while he seemed to be repeating himself a lot and, in spite of his being surrounded by a few others and encouraging adepts to get other groups going, he very much stands on his own as THE authority on Green Meditation. And the practices he outlines are very demanding! I am also a little irked by a certain self-validating attitude shared by white Western Buddhists (which I know I am a part of) and the fact that it isn't really my tradition to begin with.

Enters druidry - but that's another story.

Hope this isn't boring

[Bartholomew]

Thanks Badger Bob and Kima, both of your posts have highlighted much of my own thinking on Buddhism. I hadn't realised there were so many strands. I am attending a Thai Temple, Theravadan, I am also comparing Budhist teachings with the teachings of Christ, via various internet sources. I don't know where all this searching will get me to be honest but it intrigues me. What I do like about Buddhism as Badger Bob has more than adequately covered is the fact that buddhism aims to give the tools for self mastery and to alleviate suffering, it also leaves questions unanswered, ie the nature/ or existence of God. Which to me makes a great deal of sense as God would be unknowable to a limited human mind. What I also like about it is that you are responsible for your own actions and behaviour. The moral tales and homilies and twee insights quoted from dubious sources by Christian clergy have really started to grate on my nerves. You could say that I am arrogant in that respect, but I often times look at the people who feel they have the qualifications and capacity to judge and advise others on a spiritual path which ultimatley is a mystery for us all. And I wonder why they think their shoulders are broad enough to carry such responsibility. We are all after all, flawed, a flawed human guiding another flawed human. To have the audacity to quote what they feel is God's will in regards to another person's life just astounds me.I have too many questions about everything and I no longer take anything or anyone at face value. I will press on with the Bardic course because if I can pull three different aspects in together I might come up with yet another question. So thanks for answering and I am not a troll, I'm just an enquirer.

[Frog]

Hi there!
I wouldn't say I follow a Buddhist path - I find myself more drawn to a Taoist line of thinking. But I do draw some pleasure from Buddhist writings, as I do from Zen quotes. But then, I would suggest that not being "Eastern" my thinking is that the Druidry that I have read seems to have strong parallels - so everything works out nicely, even if the words are slightly different.

I suggest that the largest contention for the Druid/Buddhist/Taoist/Athiest etc.. against the Muslim, Christian, Jew is that they will refer to their scripture for guidance and direction - rather than to any quote or saying to offer consideration. This then provides the complication; which is the right way - especially if the scripture says that there is only one way?

Let me be clear that this is only my personal view. There are those who manage a Druid/Christian life and are quite happy - and I wish them well. For me, it's not a route I feel comfortable - and so do not participate,
Bright blessings
Frog

[Davin Raincloud]

I was a Buddhist, but i am no longer.

The reason there is no conflict here, is that OBOD Druidry has been set up to integrate into other faiths, to be synthetic, and to welcome a multi-faith aspect. It was set up more as a spiritual path. It's founder, was a Christian Druid.

The reason why there is a lot hate for Christian Druids here, is because there is simply a lot of haters on the board. It's their issue, Not OBODs and Not Druidry.

The hate says more about them, than about Christianity.

[kytty]

oh Blind Owl!
you might be new but your the brightest spark in a long long time...
DON'T FEED THE TROLL
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
iI'll drink to that one buddy hell i'll go back for another
best post of the month so far

[Brigantia]

I regard myself as a Bhuid....Buddhist/Druid. I consider myself Tibetan Buddhist and have learned an inexplainable amount of knowledge about meditation, the mind and self from it. Yet, I also identify with being a Druid-which occurred many years before taking Buddhist refuge. From Druidry, I have learned about respect for the land and those also in the sky and in the water. It helps me identify with the seasons and the energies of the earth....these are things that Buddhism doesn't seem to address very much as it's more concerned with mind.

Of course, these thoughts probably place me into a VERY small minority, yet it seems to work for me at this time in my life.

Bennachta

Brigantia